5 Takeaways From Packers 10 - 22 Eagles: Big Decisions Ahead
Brian Gutekunst has big decisions to make entering a pivotal offseason for the Packers.
By markoldacres
Big decisions ahead for Gutekunst
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has done a great job of constructing a roster capable of going to the playoffs, but at least this season, his team never made the step from good to great which would have enabled them to compete with the NFL’s best.
After the 2023 season, the arrow was clearly pointing up for the Packers. Gutekunst had few tough decisions to make regarding existing players needing to get paid, and could instead focus on making additions via free agency to improve his squad.
This offseason will be different. Some players, or entire position groups, did not show the growth Gutekunst might have expected this season, and now he has to decide who and what he believes in entering 2025.
Which players does he trust will take a big step forward next season? Where does he feel he needs to act? These are the big decisions he faces.
The wide receiver position is one that could pose a particular dilemma, as none of the wideouts significantly pushed on this season to become a truly top tier player. Is the general weirdness that surrounded Green Bay’s offense due to Love’s injuries a large reason for that? This is again something Gutekunst needs to weigh up.
A year from now, Rasheed Walker, Zach Tom, Sean Rhyan, Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Kingsley Enagbare and Devonte Wyatt will all be free agents.
Besides Tom, who is a no-brainer to keep around, how ready is Gutekunst right now to make decisions on whether to offer extensions to any of the players on that list? How many have shown they are worthy of a second contract? And at what price?
More elite talent is needed to take this team to the next level, and Gutekunst found two excellent players in free agency last offseason, but is it realistic to expect he can do the same again?
Would he be willing to explore the trade market and potentially give up premium draft picks when the draft is being hosted in Green Bay?
There will be an expectation of further improvement from within what is still a very young team in 2025, but armed with plenty of cap space, Gutekunst needs to be decisive and aggressive in trying to upgrade the roster ahead of next season.
Matt LaFleur needs to do some soul searching
LaFleur’s offense had stretches of strong play this season, and he did a masterful job of crafting a functional attack with Malik Willis at quarterback when required, but for too much of the year, this did not look like the offense we have come to know under Green Bay’s head coach.
There was too much shotgun and not enough play action. He arguably leaned too heavily on the run game.
It made sense that the offense changed with Willis under center, and even when Love was not fully mobile as he dealt with injuries, but it felt like they never pivoted back to what has been so successful for them in the past, and everything looked like a chore, especially in the last three weeks.
From the perspective of a head coach rather than a play caller, the way LaFleur’s team often played this year did not reflect well on his coaching. They were ill disciplined and sloppy in big games especially.
It was a problem that was revealed early in the season, had plenty of opportunities to be rectified, and ultimately was never fixed, as the Packers did not give themselves a real chance of beating the Eagles on Sunday due to another abysmal start.
LaFleur needs to take a look in the mirror this offseason and decide what he wants the identity of not only his offense, but his entire team to be in 2025.
A disappointing end to a strange season for Jordan Love
It was simply assumed after how Love ended last season that he would ascend further towards stardom in 2025, but his campaign went off the rails right from the start.
After suffering an injury in Brazil, he was out of the lineup for two games, then was clearly not himself after returning, picked up another injury which again impacted his play, finally hit his stride after the bye week, but then tailed off in concerning fashion in the final weeks.
When the Packers needed him to be at his best, Love turned in arguably his worst performance of the season on Sunday.
Speaking to the media after the game, Love did not outright deny that his knee injury is still impacting him in some way, and it certainly feels like Love did less work outside of the pocket, both as a passer and a scrambler, this season even when ‘healthy’.
There have been ups and downs with Love in his two years as the starter, and he needs to find more of an equilibrium next season if the Packers are to seriously compete. It is okay to give him a pass for some elements of this weird season, but there is still plenty to work on for QB1.
Rich Bisaccia’s special teams combusts
Just when Packers fans had started to feel like they could stop fretting over the special teams unit, and not hide behind the couch when they took the field, it all fell apart.
The Packers were solid on teams for much of the season once Brandon McManus took over kicking duties, but after giving up a bizarre punt return touchdown last week, Bisaccia’s group contributed mightily to Green Bay’s downfall against the Eagles.
It can certainly be argued that the hit which jarred the ball loose from Keisean Nixon’s grasp on the opening kickoff return should have been flagged for being helmet to helmet.
It was also stunning the call was not overturned after it seemed clear Nixon recovered the ball himself, rather than an Eagles player. But the bottom line is that it was a brutal fumble which set the tone for the game.
After the Packers finally mounted a competent drive on offense, McManus’ uncharacteristic miss from inside 40 yards let all the air out of the balloon.
While these are individual errors, and it feels harsh to pin them on the coordinator, it is an accumulation of these types of issues which call Bisaccia’s credentials into question. His unit also did not block well on kick and punt returns for most of the day.
The special teams may have been better this season than in many years previous, but the bar was set incredibly low and Green Bay’s problems in that phase are by no means fixed.
A positive season overall
The 2024 season ended in a swirling whirlpool of negativity after three straight losses and a first round playoff exit, but taking a wider view, there is still plenty to be positive about.
Green Bay improved from 2023 in almost every team stat you can find on offense and defense. People like to remember the end of that season, but the first half of it was worse than any stretch of play the Packers produced in 2024.
They won two more games this year, against a tougher schedule, and improved their point differential by 89 from last season.
There is finally a defensive coordinator to believe in, who worked wonders with one hand tied behind his back for much of the year due to injuries and an ineffective pass rush.
Jeff Hafley has a very good chance of fielding an even better unit next year as players get more comfortable and additions are made.
For all the criticism LaFleur is rightly receiving at the moment, they do not get in the playoffs if he does not cook up an insanely impressive offensive plan with Willis at quarterback, leading them to essentially three wins.
Some flaws in the team were exposed this year, and there is no doubt 2025 looms as a massive season for the Packers as they look to build towards a Super Bowl, but there is no reason to go overboard or think they do not have their long term answer at head coach or quarterback.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (130)
Coldworld
January 13, 2025 at 10:27 am
Gute needs to be allowed to make this team in his own image. Good or bad. That starts with setting a new culture and a single minded pursuit of the same objective. That means no committee decisions, just a true GM. LaFleur has failed. If Gute relies on him, then he will likely follow. First though we should see what Gute can and will do with unified roster and coaching control. What’s the culture, how do player types change? If Gute can’t deliver then, we will be rebuilding anew anyway. We can’t have a roster that regresses while personnel largely stayed unchanged and the bright sparks were the new players, not the returning ones.
stockholder
January 13, 2025 at 10:35 am
Gute is what is wrong with this team!
When has he ever followed a draft guide or a Guru?
Your hate for MLF, is the best way to the cellar.
Your arm chair GM raves, put us in negative territory.
Regression and injuries go hand in hand.
Stop the exaggeration.
.
Coldworld
January 13, 2025 at 10:59 am
It’s time to find out what is. I have no faith in LaFleur whatsoever. He’s a sub par manager and his offensive genius has been debunked. We need to know what Gute can do unfettered. Firing LaFleur solves problems outside of Gute’s control. Coaches, discipline, offensive design. Firing Gute would not affect those. Keeping LaFleur whoever is GM will ensure they remain. If they do, we are going nowhere.,
LuvPack
January 13, 2025 at 02:58 pm
Who is the WR coach? That group, over all, showed no improvement in getting open down field against even mediocre defenses, or attempting to catch QB's questionable, 'catchable' throws! Bring back Vrable! Other coaches underperforming besides Bisaccia - DL and CB! Gotta perform better to rule the North!
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:12 am
Don't worry, WR coach Vrabel is moving up in the coaching world, outside of GB. His replacement could prove to be THE most impactful move of the whole offseason and I certainly hope Gutey is focused on that right now!!
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:09 am
While I appreciate the calls for MLF to "do some soul searching," firing him now is how GB becomes Chicago.
Houndog
January 14, 2025 at 06:49 am
SST,
I agree with you, for now, but a little trip out back to the woodshed might not be a bad idea. Let him know he's on the clock!
canadapacker
January 13, 2025 at 11:05 am
Tired of listening to this Stocky - I agree that he has made some mistakes over his tenure - especially not pulling the trigger on AR late in his career ( or at least not telling AR that he was drafting Love) - but all in all - he has done a much better job at drafting ( except may 3rd rounders) than TT did. Now some of that may have to do with scouting - but I believe that the Defense needed to change because of the number or running QB's - but to say that he is the problem is just wrong. The same as Coldie. Usually and there is no one guy who is making the decision although the top dog gets both the credit and the blame. But when I look at the likes of Carolina and Dallas and the Bears - I think that our administration is one of the better ones. My only blame might be that we dont make the best decisions to bring in assistants and other co-ordinators - and move on. That dates back to Capers and others including strength and conditioning and special teams.
MaruishiEmperor
January 14, 2025 at 05:57 am
It's why LaFraud has to go. He does not have the mindset of a true head coach. A true head coach would not have hired Joe Barry or kept him around as long as he did. Rich Bisaccia should have been on the hot seat all year long and his firing should have been announced the next day after the playoff game. LaFraud is soft and this team reflects that. LaFraud totally mishandled Rodgers and let him get away with too much. A real head coach wouldn't have put up with that. I hope that the Packer "management" advises LaFraud that he's on the hot seat for 2025 and he better at least get to the NFC title game or he's gone.
PeteK
January 13, 2025 at 01:55 pm
You're in an alternative universe, look at the facts. Walker-7th round, Tom-4th, Kraft-3rd, plus Jacobs and Mckinney signings and plenty of cap space for next year.
bleedgreen
January 14, 2025 at 11:22 am
My opinion he finds good picks in later rounds but he had wasted way too many 1st round picks on Failed dbs, reaches or projects. We need players that can play now. TT did same thing.
dblbogey
January 13, 2025 at 02:51 pm
You're just weird.
Tundraboy
January 13, 2025 at 10:57 am
bright sparks were the new players, not the returning ones.
Yes. McKinney,Jacobs,Cooper Evan, Bullard and a K.
Just saying that makes me feel better.
Irish_Cheesehead
January 13, 2025 at 01:10 pm
I'd add Kraft to that list of bright sparks.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:21 am
Kraft was a returning player, as was #31, 50, Jenkins, even our LT played well more often than not, #7 made serious improvement as did #45 Eric Wilson. #21 Stokes put in some solid play although overall he can't be considered "a bright spot."
I'm not ready to throw our WR room under the bus.
LambeauPlain
January 13, 2025 at 11:34 am
Let Gutey be the Wolfman but it won't happen until Murphy retires in July and Policy takes over.
So Acting GM Murphy's "management by committee" and his penchant for the status quo will exist for 2025.
I believe Gute has given LaFleur a talented roster the coaches don't coach up. Hafley is remedying this on D (FINALLY) except for Rebrovich's DL coaching. Need an upgrade there. But the other D coaches Hafley brought in seem adept as he is in identifying player strengths and building a Team Defense around them.
The remaining coaches on Offense and STs? Outside of Ben Sirmans (RB coach), nope. I doubt LaFleur, with Pappa Murphy's support, makes any coaching changes.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:22 am
I'll agree that RB has worn out his welcome.
Leatherhead
January 13, 2025 at 11:55 am
"""" LaFleur has failed. """"
LaFleur has won 67 games in six seasons. That's the second most of all time. If that's failure, then I'm going to have to disagree.
13titles
January 13, 2025 at 07:35 pm
How many titles do other winningest coaches have? Or even getting to the Superbowl. Mlf is out of his depth
MaruishiEmperor
January 14, 2025 at 06:02 am
LaFraud has failed!!! He feasts on bad teams and is mediocre for the most part against good teams and fails on the big stage. He's 3-5 in the playoffs. That playoff game against TB with Rodgers is a typical LaFraud choke job.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2025 at 06:01 pm
Gute should read the tea leaves and resign. This is his skeleton propped on the playing field. Ted's guys are all gone, now.
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 08:52 pm
What a ridiculous thing to say! Just stupid!
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:06 am
I'll agree with all that EXCEPT I think it's premature to conclude that MLF has "failed." The article's reference to "MLF needs to do some soul searching" points out that MLF needs to make some changes within himself and can't afford to just look at others.
If he could fool opposing defenses about whether the next play was run or pass, that would go a very long way towards fixing the obvious dilemma. Getting more reps to more players would also help, but that requires winning in convincing fashion.
stockholder
January 13, 2025 at 10:46 am
Gute doesn't have any decisions to make.
We have good kickers.
We have a OL, but No back-ups.
We have a new Defense that keeps us in the game.
Dump the 3-4-4 guys. Stop the can from rolling 4 Good.
MLF should request a trade. The House is divided.
All you need is Love. Now shut the Hell up.
NO QB can ever show a damn thing under pressure.
Coldworld
January 13, 2025 at 11:00 am
Free trade of LaFleur? I will take it. Done. Our prospects are already better.
stockholder
January 13, 2025 at 11:01 am
Your so negative- And just gone.
dblbogey
January 13, 2025 at 02:53 pm
It's spelled "you're".
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:25 am
He also probably thinks this song is about him ;)
Irish_Cheesehead
January 13, 2025 at 01:07 pm
Who would you hire in his place? Lots of comments wanting to fire MLF, but no one suggests a replacement.
Joster11
January 13, 2025 at 01:33 pm
McCarthy is currently looking!
(This is sarcasm, fellow fans.)
Bitternotsour
January 13, 2025 at 01:42 pm
McCarthy is a better coach/better leader. Not sarcasm.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:25 am
Eberflus, obviously.
Houndog
January 14, 2025 at 07:03 am
Irish,
"Who would you hire in his place?"
Just throw the entire checkbook at Bill Cowher, and see where it lands!
bleedgreen
January 13, 2025 at 11:21 am
This OL is not good enough . They have demonstrated that many times now against good teams.
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 08:57 pm
You’re just wrong! Completely. Good Lord! Of all the position groups this may be one of the strongest! Ranked a top 10 Oline and 2nd fewest sacks allowed all season! Ofc adding depth is important, and Josh Myers is the weak link.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:29 am
Improvement could be made within the existing starters on our O line; development is part of draft and develop. Our RG is developing. Our LT needs more. Has Myers ever played a game when he wasn't nursing a shoulder injury? Keeping him with only Monk as competition doesn't seem ideal to me; draft a top C and battle it out.
Packerpasty
January 13, 2025 at 11:43 am
he is not good under pressure, doesnt run when needed and looks dumbfounded out there at times..show a little fire once in awhile...Love is mid until proves otherwise...
stockholder
January 13, 2025 at 12:45 pm
5th in offense. 5th in Defense.
But if Gute is the GM.
He'll never catch the lions without explosion.
EnemyTerritory
January 13, 2025 at 07:13 pm
This makes almost no sense. A GM that assembled a roster good for fifth in offense and defense has no ability to catch the Lions? Let’s take the 30,000 foot view. The Lions are a well run team and have assembled a very very good and steep roster and have built a winning culture over the last 2.5 years. Prior to that they have been drafting in the top 10 for decades and their roster reflects some of that. I point to 2022 when they picked SECOND and got Aidan Hutchinson and they picked again at TWELVE and got Jameson Williams. The GBP drafted number 22. Not surprisingly they improved in the following season and did not draft until TWELFTH. And took Jamar Gibbs. They picked again at 18 and took Jack Campbell and again at 32 and got Laporta and at 45 Brian Branch. GBP picked at 13, 42 & 50. In 2023 the Lions had 18m in dead cap hit and this year 30m versus nearly 60m for GBP in 2023 and 66 m in 2024., damn near a quarter of the salary cap. Rodgers and Bahktiari are the primary culprits. Lord knows I’m not getting into the AR vs Love or Willis debate, but it’s been 14 years since AR saw a Super Bowl and tearing an ACL right before the playoffs was not exactly Gutey fault. So yeah, the Lions have improved and are a deeper roster with more stars than the green and gold but for crying out loud when you suck for so long and draft from the cream of the crop then you are going to have a better chance in drafting superstars. It’s also pretty damned difficult to move on from a consensus first ballot HOF QB to an unproven replacement. I’d argue it’s easier to go from being a sucky team to a good team. Lastly, nobody has exactly been poaching Lions coaches and front office staff the previous couple decades. Let’s see how the Lions O and D look when the O and/or D Coordinator is a head coach somewhere else.
I’d also point to his free agency pickups. McKinney and Jacob’s. Not bad imho. Don’t forget Willis which half the blow it up crowd wants to start over Love. Ok then, if Willis is the next HOF QB at Lambeau, just who gets the credit for that roster move?
Is Gutenkunst perfect? Hell no. I don’t have the highest level of confidence in the MLF and I don’t think he has a great track record in drafting players that can contribute immediately but compared to the opportunities that the Lions have had over the last three years he’s essentially fighting a battle with a salary cap and draft order handcuff. He has zero control over season or career ending injuries to positions like say a potential All Pro Left Tackle immediately prior to a playoff game or your field stretching WR in the last half of the last game of the season. Also hard to win a playoff game when you lose your next two best WRs and 40% of your offensive line during the course of the game.
Lastly, the Lions went 15-2 and the Vikings surprisingly went 14-3. Are you presuming that these teams will only continue to improve particularly given that the NFL has designed its salary cap and draft order to promote parity?
Rose colored glasses? Maybe. But the negativity in the fire Gute cry is absurd. I have little doubt that some of the 18 teams that did not make the playoffs who may have vacancies in the front office would be on the line with Gutey if he were let go before he packed his last bankers box. Just who the hell would you hire as GMmand why would they be far far superior to the incumbent.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:34 am
Explosion has already happened, both the OC and DC for the Lions are gone.
Tundraboy
January 13, 2025 at 10:48 am
Big Decisions, Yes he does.
I just hope that he is more decisive and doesn't tempt fate like hoping that the so and so will be back, healthy and some will take a step up. Trust your eyes, trust logic,no more hopes no more ifs, cover your bases and don't delude yourself when you're evaluating coaching as well as the talent.
irishgary
January 13, 2025 at 10:54 am
I think it's time to move on from JA. Trade him and get some good picks while he still has value. Draft a couple of Corners and an edge rusher.
stockholder
January 13, 2025 at 11:20 am
Ok- Whats wrong with Nixon? I'd keep him outside.
We've had Shields and Williams.
Alexander is coming back. Stokes is gone.
Now the edge Rusher is another problem.
Edge fits the 3-4-4. Not Reggie White's 4-front.
You need a Rush if they don't draft a CB early.
The edge rushers are slower OLBs.
So why not move Walker outside
and Draft Campbell out of Alabama instead.
TKWorldWide
January 13, 2025 at 07:49 pm
Hard to understand.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2025 at 09:09 pm
Nixon has to go. Not a serious guy who wants to WIN. Best to bring in at least three CBs from Free agency and the draft. Watching this Rams crew in action tonight shows the way. He bags Byron Young and Kobie Turner in rd three and they generate 32 sacks to date. The Pack selects Van Ness and Musgrave. Cooper is the man to run this defense to the next level. Get a couple more dudes who play the game to win.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:43 am
#25 is the hungriest player on the roster - or at least he was until Gutey brought in #8. Those two played together in College, infecting the whole locker room with their fire is a good idea. Getting rid of either of them is NOT.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2025 at 06:08 pm
That particular trade needed to happen during the 2024 draft. No CBs selected from a solid field last Spring.
Paying Nixon when the kick return rules changed and the guy just makes key mistakes in big games. Get better.
barutanseijin
January 13, 2025 at 08:57 pm
He’s cheap for a corner, which is what he is most of the time.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2025 at 09:13 pm
A dime guy.
EnemyTerritory
January 13, 2025 at 07:18 pm
Yes yes yes. Take your broken down never running sports car to the dealer and get a couple new sports cars straight up. I’m sure there are tons of dealers/teams willing to do that
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:40 am
Keeping Ja costs $6MM against the cap vs any other option. What are you going to do with $6MM that's guaranteed to contribute more than Ja?
MaruishiEmperor
January 14, 2025 at 06:06 am
With the injury history that he has? You'll be lucky to get a ham sandwich for him, but then there are suckers like the Jets out there.
T7Steve
January 13, 2025 at 10:56 am
Is Love's health why he was in the shotgun constantly? It seemed the play calls were as vanilla as the last two games that I thought were intentional to not show anything. In the past, it seemed everything they did was shown in the regular season. Nothing left un-scouted. Every team we've ever faced in the playoffs, even the last two games in the division this season, the teams showed new twists on O and D that seemed more than the Packers could adjust for. I'll give the D credit in this game. They did their part and would have done better if the O would have helped them out.
jvole
January 13, 2025 at 06:09 pm
I think this is correct. Playing well with injury is not a skill that all players have.
On my darker days, I wondered if the reason LaFleur seemed out of sorts for much of this year is that he realized that he has Eli Manning instead of Peyton. A good quarterback but not a great one, especially playing hurt.
Since'61
January 13, 2025 at 11:01 am
After MLF's first 3 seasons as HC the Packers record was 39-10 in the regular season and 41-13 including the playoffs (.759 win %). In his next 3 seasons the Packers have gone 28-23 regular season and 29-25 including the playoffs (.537 win %). Clearly the Packers have not maintained an arrow pointing upward over the last 3 seasons.
Yes, they entered a rebuild after Rodgers left in 2022. But the bottom line is that the current team just has not played as well as they did during the 2019 - 2021 seasons. Gute gets plenty of credit for his drafting but where are the core players from the 2018 - 2021 drafts besides Alexander (Gute's first draft pick) who is often injured the last few seasons and Eglton Jenkins?
Gute has numerous decisions to consider this offseason at OL, WR, DL and CB. Even his QB has become a question mark after his performance this season. Jacobs, Reed and Kraft are the Packers best skill players on offense. McKinney and Cooper are the best players on defense.
Someone needs to have a long conversation with MLF about his game preparation and his in game coaching decisions, not to mention the team's overall sloppy play especially on offense. With Murphy leaving that will likely fall on Gute if it happens at all. However, accountability has been lacking in the Packers organization for a long time going back into the TT/McCarthy era. We can justifiably say for the entire Murphy as President era. Maybe that will change with Murphy's successor. Time will tell.
In any case the Packers need to take a long. serious look at their entire organization and make the decisions necessary to return the Packers to a legitimate SB contender. Thanks, Since '61
stockholder
January 13, 2025 at 11:09 am
Gute isn't going to change.
He'll keep the border line drafted player.
Until that player wants to Leave.
Or that player falls flat on his face.
He'll only make big changes, if he has Extra picks.
Or to spend the money elsewhere.
stockholder
January 13, 2025 at 03:27 pm
And now comes the inside scoop.
Jaire Alexander won't be here?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2025 at 09:16 pm
What might have been is a question mark...T.S.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:47 am
$6MM.
That's it. That's the entire difference between keeping Ja vs any other option.
What are you going to get that's guaranteed to contribute more than Ja for $6MM?
Since'75
January 13, 2025 at 12:04 pm
I love reading 61's comments.
He has a big picture look at the Packers that is almost always accurate.
I could comment forever off of 61's TT/Murphy/Gute/McCarthy/MLF era viewpoints with my own, but it would be a novel without an end.
So i'll just say Kudos, and CHTV is lucky to have you posting here 61.
Since'61
January 13, 2025 at 06:30 pm
Since'75 I appreciate your taking the time to post your very kind comments. I enjoy your posts and I look forward to reading them. I agree that CHTV does not have enough space to take on all of the comments about the TT/Gute/Murphy/McCarthy/MLF era.
I'm happy to be here at CHTV. Thanks, Since '61
Since'75
January 13, 2025 at 08:36 pm
Credit when due my friend.
bjkdad44
January 13, 2025 at 10:36 pm
Agree 100%!
davekenya
January 13, 2025 at 10:44 pm
Right. The Packers have slid since AR departure (which needed to happen). Love is not yet in that 'top echelon' of QBs maybe b/c he still has too little game experience? For whatever reasons, he overthrows too much, skips passes to receivers, and makes poor passing decisions (ex: escape pocket to right and throw to middle of the field -- garnering an immediate 'You don't throw to the middle of the field when escaping to the right -- that's QB 101' comment from Tom Brady. Is it lingering injuries? Maybe. But whatever the reason, he needs to do a deep off-season study of his mechanics and footwork and clean up his passing motions to eliminate the crap throws (and stuff like the D. Slay interception where he should know/see the CB is playing - and should be playing - inside coverage...so throw the dam$ ball to the OUTSIDE shoulder not the inside -- basic stuff like that. Learn. He has the potential -- just needs to buckle down and learn.
I'm sounding critical of JL and mean to be -- teams win and lose based on their QB play. Just rewatch JL the last few games of the season.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 12:55 am
Completely fair! Don't fire JL10, but don't neglect the obvious "areas of opportunity" for improvement, either. Same goes for MLF and Gutey.
White92
January 14, 2025 at 06:52 pm
I wonder if MLF ever considered hiring motivational speakers to get these guys fired up for the big games. Clearly, he is not a good motivator.
I have no confidence MLF can take this team to the next level. While I can't say who I would replace him with, I'm not excited about seeing him on the sidelines next year.
Cheezehead72
January 13, 2025 at 11:17 am
Our WRs need to be looked at. I would like to say release Watson due to injuries but he still has one more year on the rookie contract so that leads me to say keep him. I believe Doubs might retire being as it appears he suffered a concussion while wearing the Guardian cap. Reed, Wicks, and Heath are good but not great. We will need to keep them.
We need to get maulers on the offensive line. I like drafting guys that can play more than one position but these guys need to concentrate on one position. I would love to see on OL like the Eagles OL. They are good but we need better. It appears Love is going to be one of those QBs that needs good protection.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:07 am
O line:
GB had (past tense) four O linemen above 6'6". Not one time did they try using them as a jumbo package on third and short. This is THE single biggest failing of the MLF era IMHO. They devoted significant roster spots and years to this experiment, and never even TRIED it?!? Instead of AR12 trying to thread needles from a mile away, just one of those times try this instead, having someone other than #9 10 11 or 12 running the ball (,Quadzilla) with someone else big and strong pushing from behind. If it works keep them on the field; before it stops working give them the easiest pass pro assignments possible, a short quick throw. If it works and they march down the field for 6, go for 2.
The only one left of all that investment is Kadheem Telfort, who #28 AJ Dillon (yes he's still on the team) says is who #8 should be running behind.
Iggles' O line is comparable. GB gave up on the idea without ever trying it.
I also wish JL10 had learned from watching AR12 that you DON'T try to thread needles from a mile away on third and short. Keep the drive alive, then try that on first or second down if it's there.
Razer
January 13, 2025 at 11:23 am
I am going to get the roller out here and simply state that we don't have enough talent or depth in all aspects of this team. The O-line and D-line are average and performance drops way off after the starters. Same is true of the secondary and WR groups. I hate to say it but the late season injuries to Watson and Doubs makes some decisions unavoidable and evident. Doubs won't last in this league with a soft pumpkin and Watson is primarily a speed guy with average route skills. The concussions and ACL will force us to invest in new players.
The lack of talent also applies to our coaching staff. Aside from Hafley, we were unable to clean much up. WRs and TEs were one trick ponies at best. The best QB play came from outside this staff. The O-line coaching was limited to 5 average starters. Overall, this was the year of "good enough".
Packerpasty
January 13, 2025 at 11:40 am
Agreed that MLF has not put together a very good staff...for whatever reason..
Irish_Cheesehead
January 13, 2025 at 01:18 pm
I wouldn't call Kraft a one trick pony. He was one of the few bright spots on offense this year along with Jacobs.
Leatherhead
January 13, 2025 at 01:40 pm
I think Kraft was a real good player for us, too. He got his man blocked in the running game, and that was absolutely a factor in us being one of the top rushing teams in the league.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:09 am
Jacobs Kraft Reed are our playmakers, IN THAT ORDER. Play design and calling should reflect that.
LambeauPlain
January 13, 2025 at 11:49 am
"They won two more games this year..."
No, they won one more game than last year. 11-7 vs 10-8...and the additional win was due to Brooks' finger to sneak by the lowly bares.
I believe Love's injury not only caused some chronic issues for him, but also severely limited his game week practice and game plan prep. And I believe lack of game week/game planning practice time robbed many other starters, too.
Every week the Packers have one of the longest injury lists and LaFleur is ultra cautious not practicing those guys or severely limiting practice and prep. Penalties, mistakes, drops, sloppy out of synch slow starts became routine.
Many players were held out of practice all week but played on game days if they could get through one limited practice session during the week. It showed with rusty, sloppy, undisciplined play.
.
Since'75
January 13, 2025 at 11:55 am
If true about Loves injuries (i also thought about that possibility).
I would like to have seen more of Malik Willis.
If Love wasn't 100%, i think Willis has earned that playing time.
Of course, that is also contingent on Willis's own health
Since'75
January 13, 2025 at 11:51 am
OFF TOPIC......
Look for Mike McCarthy to be announced as the Bears new head coach within a week or so.
canadapacker
January 13, 2025 at 12:31 pm
They will probably go back to Rivera.
Bitternotsour
January 13, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Hiring McCarthy for that team would be way too smart for the Bears to pull off.
Cheezehead72
January 13, 2025 at 01:05 pm
So what this means is the Bears will not be good for awhile
bjkdad44
January 13, 2025 at 10:44 pm
😂🤣😂🤣😂
Leatherhead
January 13, 2025 at 01:18 pm
The story here (Texas) is that Jones wants something in return for releasing McCarthy, even though he he'd like to fire him.
M3 has a long history, has won a lot of games, and will probably go to the HOF. But he's not going to fix Chicago, and he has no future in Dallas.
The smart move for McCarthy would be to become a talking head so he could influence the HOF voters.
Bitternotsour
January 13, 2025 at 04:54 pm
McCarthy is a football coach, not an announcer. He will be a football coach. He'd be perfect in Pittsburgh, maybe someone will pay for/trade for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers can hire Mike.
Leatherhead
January 13, 2025 at 07:05 pm
It would almost be possible to teach a smart dog to do what some of these talking football heads do.
1. Nice suit, haircut, dentistry, etc. Sit and smile.
2. Practice what you're going to say. Listen to the voice in your earwig.
3. Let other people talk and pretend to listen when the pretty lady is speaking.
It's not that hard. It's easier than coaching, that's for sure.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:19 am
SEE: TB12.
Since'75
January 13, 2025 at 12:27 pm
One of my takeaways.....
With the improved defense, i can't help but wonder if Jordan Love needs to be a good game manager vs. a franchise QB who tries to carry the team on his shoulders. Maybe he isn't 'that guy'.
Just my .02 🤷♂️
Leatherhead
January 13, 2025 at 01:37 pm
There's going to be a lot of discussion for about 8 months on Love. Whatever is decided or changed has to involve him protecting the ball better.
The MLF Illusion of Complexity offense seems to be driven more by the RBs than the Packer offense of the last 30 years or more. For 30 years, we had a HOF QB under center and that was the identity of our offense. Even when we had some good RBs, it was still about throwing it.
So maybe we don't have to depend on Love so much. Maybe 20-25 passes is the Zone for him. BTW, the greatest game manager I ever saw was Bart Starr. Of course, that was back in the day when you called your own plays. Right now, we just need a QB who can execute the play and protect the ball.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I hate to do this, but I was thinking that the moribund Packer offense might have benefited from going to Willis. I mean, perhaps an energizing play or two might have taken a little bit of attention away from Jacobs. Without Doubs, Watson, or Reed, or a line that could pass protect without holding, it was unlikely that we were going to pass our way back into this.
It's a dilemma. Willis is a good player for us, but it's kind of nuts to switch your QBs in and out, even for me. But on the other hand, the definition of insanity is well known, and I was silently hoping we'd take a bold gamble. We had 0, and 0 is halfway to 0, and you can't win with 0, even with a really good defense.
Since'75
January 13, 2025 at 08:34 pm
"So maybe we don't have to depend on Love so much. Maybe 20-25 passes is the Zone for him. BTW, the greatest game manager I ever saw was Bart Starr. Of course, that was back in the day when you called your own plays. Right now, we just need a QB who can execute the play and protect the ball." - LH
Yea..game manager.
What i said. 🙄😏😲🥱
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:22 am
Willis could be utilized in trick plays, with JL10 also on the field. 3 every week would be too much, but 8 against the Iggles would not have been too many. (Had it worked, lol)
bleedgreen
January 14, 2025 at 11:32 am
Illusion of complexity is more like Delusion of simplicity. Eagles an top teams got it all figured out. MLF needs to go.
Lphill
January 13, 2025 at 01:29 pm
get Max Crosby and some corners not drafted in the 7 th round, say goodbye to Gary and Nixon and Alexander, its unacceptable to lead the league in drops is it coaching? the Packers are not that far away but if changes aren't made it looks like 4 th place in the North.
Pkk128
January 13, 2025 at 02:10 pm
Fix this shit show in 5 steps:
1. Fire Rich Bisaccia
2. Let all pending FA's walk.
3. trade love, alexander, and a 5th for Baker and a 6th.
4. Welcome back, Davante. ( too many young WRs)
5. With current + additional cap, absolutely COOK in FA... crosby, higgins, etc.
bjkdad44
January 13, 2025 at 10:48 pm
Wishful thinking????
Guam
January 13, 2025 at 02:12 pm
There will be lots of discussion about players during the off season, but management changes may be the biggest requirement. I see two changes needed.
The Packers lack accountability in football with the current divided structure and the Board (more of a community relations Board than a governance Board) does not hold the President accountable. The Packers need to return to a true football GM that is responsible for all football operations to restore accountability on the football side. I believe Gutekunst is the guy for that job, but I'm sure Stockholder will disagree...... Whoever it is, someone has to be accountable for all football operations.
In HC Matt Lafleur i see a guy that has too much on his plate during game time. From bland play calling at times to clock mismanagement to challenge gaffes to benign neglect of Special Teams and Defense, La fleur needs to learn to delegate. I would like to see him relinquish the play calling duties to the OC and become a true HC. Should the play caller be Stenovich? iDK. But it should no longer be an overstretched HC. Lafleur needs to manage the game better or the Packers will always struggle against the good teams who do manage the game well.
Those two changes need to happen as much as an infusion of players in some key position groups.
Major Snafu
January 13, 2025 at 03:11 pm
Is it me or does LeFleur look clueless at times. It seems when things are going bad he has his face planted in his little play book and doesnt make eye contact. He is listless and looks lost for ideas when things are going south.
Get rid of the special teams coach. If you cant tell Nixon, just catch the dam ball and we get it on the 20 instead of running and getting killed to get to the twenty two is stupid.
Not watching the ball but watching a dupe pretend to catch a ball is high school mistakes. This takes players who arent very bright. I say we have a small raft of them on this team
Guam
January 13, 2025 at 03:59 pm
I would say overwhelmed rather than clueless, but definitely not in control.
To your other points, is it the players or the coaching? Poor discipline usually is coaching. Look what Campbell has done for the Lions. They don't beat themselves under his leadership.
Gman1976
January 13, 2025 at 09:14 pm
I recently wrote that I was thinking that MLF needs to be either an OC or a HC. He obviously doesn't do both well. Now I am thinking, maybe neither. He is making Coaching 101 mistakes with consistently poor play calling, lack of creativity and game planning, clueless about ingame strategy changes, unable to call a timeout when the D has the wrong play or converse with the DC to change plays, time management issues, losing timeouts due to failed challenges, inability to take crucial points, lose on 4th down & 2 point conversions, allow undisciplined costly penalties, allow ST failures to grow, etc, etc, etc.. I am one who thinks we have talent, but coaching is costing us games.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:32 am
I simply do not believe MLF will ever develop into the type of HC you have written you'd like him to become. That's why I think the winning formula is to keep his nose buried in the playbook and delegate the other responsibilities MLF sucks at anyway. Then he just needs to figure out how to become seamless with Strno calling the run plays (bring back the RPO seems like the answer there)
Guam
January 14, 2025 at 12:42 pm
He may not be HC material, but then he needs to be an OC somewhere else. The Packers need a leader and if he can't develop into one he needs to go.
Bitternotsour
January 14, 2025 at 01:10 pm
The structure won't change, in fact it can't change unless you plan on demoting LaFleur and Russ Ball. Short of Matt LaFleur leaving of his own volition or him being fired, reorg simply can't happen, his job description reports to the office of the President. I guess Russ Ball is 66 now, he could conceivably retire.
Leatherhead
January 14, 2025 at 05:37 pm
People keep clinging to this belief that the old structure was inherently superior and that any right-minded person would want to change it back. There's no real justification for demoting Ball or LaFleur. and the current structure is not the reason we didn't win the Super Bowl, and it's not going to be changed back. Get used to it.
Bitternotsour
January 14, 2025 at 06:13 pm
The old structure was inherently superior. The GM should hire a coach and they should be philosophically aligned on squad building. The dynamic was upset by making them equals reporting to a suit. Russ Ball should be doing the bidding of the GM and should report to him. The restructure was built to flatter Mark Murphy who thought himself the smartest guy in the room and the point of the spear, it was a clear power grab.
The reorg created silos, it didn't solve them. The problem is that Policy is now going to be sitting in the chair, and that decision can't be unfucked. Hope everyone likes the idea of the team lawyer making football decisions.
Major Snafu
January 13, 2025 at 03:05 pm
Im more an observer then a fan these past few decades having suffered with 50 years of Lions futility, having the Wolverines be also rans and run overs by MSU and OSU for many years so my observations are more harsh and from the outside.
1. Your a small market team so cheap ball is in play and has been for a dam long time. Many of you dont notice because you had the luxury of two HOF QB's back to back who won super bowls and div championships and make it work.
2. This is an average team. If Love is your future and the receivers we presently have are your future, and the current defensive backs are you future, your going nowhere. Playoffs, possibly if you like this year play the weak sisters of the NFL, but against the better teams that are balanced with good QB's and talent on both sides the ball, your one and done.
3. You have one star on your team and thats Jacobs, he gets hurt and you lose a lot. Anytime you have that situation your treading water. Your competition to survive and get to the playoffs are a very deep - 4 qbs right now and 3 talented running backs and 2 of the BEST receivers in football, pro bowlers on both sides the ball are the vikes. then you face the Lions who are also talented but not as deep as the Vikes but when healthy their a force. Thus 4 loses right their and the bears will get better so one loss their. Thats 5 loses in your own division because you lack talent. Players you got, talented players not.
Last why? Gutt. He is the worst gm in football but is loved by the brass because he can get cheap players and knows how to let guys go rather then give them big contracts but keeps crap players who he drafted high and gives the farm away - Alexander, Gary, Walker.
I say just accept your average at best and enjoy the game. You'll win some lose some but any aspirations of Super bowls are folly. Better chance winning the lottery.
Guam
January 13, 2025 at 04:04 pm
If you accept mediocre, you will be mediocre. That will never be the Packets. Thirteen championships - more than any other team - is proof of that.
EnemyTerritory
January 13, 2025 at 07:44 pm
I said my piece above but your comment on being a small market team is an often overlooked factor. I have a feeling that is difficult to attract a lot of premier free agents to the Packers because except for their charter this team would not exist in its present location. Green Bay beach (particularly in winter) and the bright lights of the local dive bar is a hard sell versus South Beach or LA. Add in the lack of income taxes in some states…. I’m old enough to remember the jaws dropping when Reggie White signed.
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 09:06 pm
You completely underestimate a players desire to play in a winning franchise. Btw, the vikings are getting hammered by tue Rama right now. 😁
bjkdad44
January 13, 2025 at 10:52 pm
LA???… burning today!….
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:38 am
Quite the attraction ...
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 09:08 pm
Average team. Haha. Average teams don’t get a post season seed. They go home. Watching the Rams hammer the Viqueens is some consolation tho!
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 09:10 pm
Hahaha. Gutekunst, by his peers, is considered one of the too GM’s in the NFL! But you think he’a the worst. Hmmm. 🤔 I wondwe who I’m gonna believe. Lol. 👎
Tex49
January 13, 2025 at 10:40 pm
Detroit’s a real gem of a city, if you’re a 50 year fan of the lions you’ve got some really devastating selective amnesia.
Bitternotsour
January 14, 2025 at 06:19 pm
"these past decades" jesus kid, were you a fan in the womb?
Rhah
January 13, 2025 at 03:13 pm
I like draft and develop, and it has worked well for the Packers. Now is the time for some veterans. I think WR and Edge should be like RB and S were last year. Two big FA signings that could change this team.
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 09:02 pm
Totally agree.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:40 am
Rookie WRs often contribute. Rookie linemen usually do not.
mjbrogno
January 13, 2025 at 04:26 pm
I’m so disappointed with MLF. The question that I have is the continuing mistakes made by this team throughout the entire season. The age factor of this team does not matter when it comes to keep shooting yourself in the foot. Sooner or later something has to give. Gutey needs to think long and hard on this issue. Yes, injuries are a part of the game. Losing Jenkins was to hard to overcome. Overall, the window for MLF has to be a short leash.
EricTorkelson
January 13, 2025 at 04:36 pm
Losing Jenkins was hard to overcome .... Yes.... but replacing Jenkins with T Glover who hardly saw the field this year instead of Kadeem Telfort was absolutely mind boggling .... not to mention a disaster
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 09:01 pm
I’m sure that was a position coaches decision and not Lefleurs.
bjkdad44
January 13, 2025 at 10:53 pm
Coaching ???? Decisions?!?!?!
EricTorkelson
January 13, 2025 at 04:29 pm
Of the players listed to resign ... Rasheed Walker must , Sean Rhyan must, Quay Walker yes , Zach Tom ( no ) overrated , Christian Walker ( no ) Enagbare yes Devonte Wyatt ( no ) Romeo Doubs ( retire ).
Love ... remains careless with the ball, is slow footed and does not have the instincts in the pocket anywhere near his predecessor did.
Yes the sloppy play of the Packers this year is a reflection of head coach Lafleur.
Bisaccias teams resembled the past K Nixon getting tackled inside the 25 while opposing teams returner getting tackled around the 35
However D Whelan, and B McManus were exceptional.
Overall the Packers have accumulated a lot of good young talent but they are only going to go as far as Love will take them and that is a huge question mark IMHO
bjkdad44
January 13, 2025 at 10:54 pm
Tom… YES!!!!
SicSemperTyrannis
January 14, 2025 at 01:43 am
We see why you are a GM for exactly nobody.
Don't quit your day job.
EricTorkelson
January 14, 2025 at 06:25 am
OK Sic ... But this is coming from someone who says they should retain a forth grader to play wr for the packers next year ..... GOTCHA ....
NFLfan
January 13, 2025 at 06:55 pm
Da Bears are requesting a HC interview w/Adam Stenavich
cdoemel
January 13, 2025 at 08:59 pm
Hell yeah!! They can have him!!
bjkdad44
January 13, 2025 at 10:54 pm
😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
the_gavia_pass
January 14, 2025 at 05:17 am
1st decision. murphy out NOW.
ed policy deserves to have control from day1 of the new season not in july!!!
that is crazy.
so policy can decide NOW about gute, lafleur, love and so on.
2025 MUST BE policy packers, so we can start to see if he is in the harlan mode or in the SOFT murphy mode
NFLfan
January 14, 2025 at 09:05 am
Mark Murphy turns 70 in July which is the retirement deadline.
Fans will have to wait and see what Ed Policy does or doesn't do.
Bitternotsour
January 14, 2025 at 09:12 am
Ed Policy will do what Murphy did. Keep the finances solid, invest in the future, go to league meetings, drink really good wine. The franchise is stable, not stale, and it will be more of the same going forward.
There is a plan, despite people refusing to understand that the franchise isn't a season to season proposition. Inside they call it the Packer way. They will continue to operate in the Packer way.
the_gavia_pass
January 15, 2025 at 04:46 am
that is not the packers way.
vince lombardi saved the packers creating the true packers way: only wins count and only SB.
the murphy way is different. win the north and go to the post season. SB is just an option but they will never do an all in run to it.
the culture must go back to vince lombardi. the murphy way is soft and in the long run it will be a loser one
navydisposaleer
January 14, 2025 at 08:39 am
To put it in simple terms, "You can't change a Leopard's spots." That applies to Love; he simply isn't good enough regardless of how much $$$ you throw at him. Same goes with LaFleur; he isn't good enough to command the Packers. Look at the discipline issue; jumping off sides, lining up off sides. Simple stuff that isn't working. As for the defense, it isn't there yet, but the new coordinator needs to figure out how to rush the QB. He doesn't have that figured out yet.